Spotlight on IMA Clinical Research, Las Vegas

#1 site on Power in 2024: IMA Clinical Research, Las Vegas

Building personal connections in clinical research: Read about this site's experience on Power and the best practices they use to ensure a smooth patient journey and successful enrollments.

In the evolving landscape of clinical research, one site stands out for its deeply personal approach to patient recruitment and engagement. IMA Clinical Research's Las Vegas location has risen to become a top performer in neuropsychiatry studies, achieving this distinction through an unwavering commitment to patient care and innovative partnerships. Their partnership with Power has helped them to book up to 5 patients into screening visits in a single day.

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A Partnership Built on Growth and Trust

Seven months ago, when IMA Clinical Research Las Vegas first collaborated with Power on recruitment for a Phase III MDD study, neither organization could have predicted the remarkable journey ahead. As Power's liaison to IMA Vegas, I've had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how dedication to patient care and openness to innovation can transform clinical research recruitment.

“I try to be very pleasant and soft, but precise and direct too when I talk to patients,” explains Dusica Tomanovic, a seasoned recruiter at IMA Clinical Research. “I really put in effort to not sound like a machine, because I think it’s so important to have a human touch.” 

She also elaborated on her process. “I call these patients 6 to 7 times. Maybe it helps, maybe it’s too much, but I try to give people as many chances as possible to talk to me about the study.” This approach captures the essence of IMA's approach to patient recruitment - one that prioritizes understanding individual needs.

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Growing Together: A Story of Collaborative Success

The partnership between Power and IMA Vegas exemplifies how young companies and established research sites can learn from each other. Through frequent conversations and ongoing feedback sessions, IMA's insights have helped shape Power's evolution as a recruitment platform. The results speak for themselves - in the past three months alone, IMA Vegas has seen their screening visit rate from Power patients increase by 2.5 times.

 "We've noticed better quality patients coming through Power," Tomanovic shares with enthusiasm. Alyssa Boschen, Regional Site Director at IMA, also noted that “it’s been really refreshing - it seems like Power cares, and they really want to engage the sites, and they want to continuously improve.” 

They’re currently calling an average of 33 Power referrals per week and booking up to 6 into screening visits for our active partnership campaigns. We’re currently collaborating on 2 trials - the Phase III for MDD and a Phase III for GAD - and are excited to see these numbers grow as we collaborate on more studies in the future.

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Breaking Down Barriers in Mental Health Research

The landscape of mental health research has shifted significantly in recent years.

"People are becoming more open to talking about mental health, which is very good," notes Alyssa Boschen, Regional Site Director at IMA. "We're seeing patients with more insight into their conditions because they're engaging in these conversations."

This increased awareness brings both opportunities and challenges. While more people are seeking help through clinical research, the team must carefully navigate through varying levels of self-diagnosis and understanding. The rise of mental health awareness on social media has led to what Boschen describes as "background noise" - patients arriving with preconceptions about their conditions that may not align with clinical diagnoses.

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The Art of Patient Engagement

IMA's success in recruitment stems from their meticulous approach to patient communication. Their strategy includes:

• Contacting potential participants within 24 hours
• Scheduling initial visits within 72 hours when possible
• Varying call times to reach people at convenient moments
• Leaving detailed, personalized voicemails
• Following up multiple times with gentle persistence

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Building for the Future

The relationship between IMA Clinical Research and Power represents more than just a vendor-site partnership - it's a collaborative effort to improve clinical research recruitment.

"What stands out is that Power really listens to what we have to say," Tomanovic reflects during our most recent meeting. "We're on the front lines, and our experience helps shape the future of both businesses."

Boschen added, “you guys are really responsive with us and it seems like you guys are making every effort you can to come up with the best solutions to be able to deliver quality referrals.”

This collaborative approach has yielded remarkable results. In one notable instance, the team successfully scheduled five motivated participants in a single day - a testament to their refined recruitment process and deep understanding of patient needs.

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A Model for Industry Excellence

For pharmaceutical sponsors looking to partner with recruitment vendors, IMA's experience offers valuable insights. "It's crucial to have a clear understanding of metrics and methods," Boschen advises. She emphasizes the importance of ongoing evaluation and flexibility in recruitment strategies, noting that success isn't just about generating leads - it's about finding the right patients who will complete the trial.

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As mental health research continues to evolve, IMA Clinical Research's approach serves as a model for the industry. Their success demonstrates that in clinical research recruitment, the most effective strategy combines innovative tools with compassionate, patient-centered communication. Through their partnership with Power, they're not just filling studies - they're helping build a more accessible and understanding clinical research environment for mental health patients.

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Looking ahead to 2025, both teams are excited to continue growing together, driven by a shared commitment to improving patient access to clinical trials while maintaining the personal touch that makes IMA Vegas truly exceptional.

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If you are interested in recommendations to sites like IMA Las Vegas for your trial, meeting our team or recruiting with Power, schedule a demo below!